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Best Aeroplan Credit Card in Canada (2026): TD vs CIBC vs Amex Compared

Three cards, all $599 annual fee, all opening the eligible Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge network in Canada and the U.S. CIBC wins for most households: same lounge package as TD, cheaper supplementary card ($149), strongest trip-cancellation insurance ($10,000/trip). TD is a close second — a better welcome offer or a TD banking rebate can flip the result. Amex Aeroplan Reserve is the pick for heavy Air Canada spending, applicants below the Visa Infinite Privilege income floor, or Toronto Pearson regulars — its Priority Pass visits are paid, not included. TD and CIBC confirm the one-guest benefit only through December 31, 2026.

edit_note

By AirportLounges.ca Editorial Team

Card benefits verified against issuer T&C pages, Air Canada Aeroplan program terms, and current cardholder communications.

Published · Last verified · Sourcing methodology

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All three Aeroplan premium cards, side by side, with any active FinlyWealth cashback rebates on top of issuer offers.

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Head-to-head comparison

FeatureCIBC Aeroplan VIPTD Aeroplan VIPAmex Aeroplan Reserve
Annual fee$599$599$599
Supplementary card (with lounge access)$149$199$199
Published income floor$150k / $200k$150k / $200kNone published
Air Canada earn rate2x2x3x
Gas / groceries / travel / dining1.5x1.5x (incl. transit)2x dining, 1.25x other
Maple Leaf Lounge (Canada + U.S.)✅ Unlimited✅ Unlimited✅ Unlimited
Guest in 20261, through Dec. 31, 20261, through Dec. 31, 20261, no expiry stated
Other lounge network6 Visa Airport Companion visits / year6 Visa Airport Companion visits / yearPriority Pass (fee waived; each visit charged)
Trip cancellation, per trip$10,000$5,000$3,000
Emergency medical, age 65+10 days4 daysNot included
Foreign transaction fee2.5%2.5%2.5%

Verified September 11, 2026 against issuer T&C pages, Air Canada Aeroplan benefits and each issuer\'s insurance summary. Extra Visa Airport Companion visits cost US$32. Amex\'s "1,200+ lounges" wording refers to Priority Pass membership; every visit is billed at the prevailing rate.

Full card profiles

CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege

$599/yr

Best overall for lounge-focused eligible Canadians. Cheapest supplementary card ($149). Strongest trip-cancellation insurance ($10,000/trip). Same lounge package as TD.

  • Aeroplan earn: 2x on Air Canada, 1.5x on gas / EV / groceries / travel / dining, 1.25x elsewhere
  • Other lounge network: 6 Visa Airport Companion visits / year (DragonPass, 1,200+ lounges worldwide)
  • Guest at Maple Leaf Lounge: 1 guest at Maple Leaf Lounge through Dec. 31, 2026; supplementary card $149
See CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege arrow_forward

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege

$599/yr

Close second. Same lounge package as CIBC. Better if you bank with TD (fee rebates are common) or the TD welcome offer is stronger on the day.

  • Aeroplan earn: 2x on Air Canada, 1.5x on gas / EV / groceries / travel / transit / dining, 1.25x elsewhere
  • Other lounge network: 6 Visa Airport Companion visits / year (DragonPass, 1,200+ lounges worldwide)
  • Guest at Maple Leaf Lounge: 1 guest at Maple Leaf Lounge through Dec. 31, 2026; supplementary card $199
See TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege arrow_forward

American Express Aeroplan Reserve

$599/yr

Conditional pick. Best for heavy Air Canada spenders (3x), applicants without $150k personal / $200k household income (no published floor), and Toronto Pearson regulars (priority security lane, valet, 15% parking).

  • Aeroplan earn: 3x on Air Canada, 2x on dining and food delivery in Canada, 1.25x elsewhere
  • Other lounge network: Priority Pass membership: US$99 annual fee waived; each visit charged at the prevailing rate
  • Guest at Maple Leaf Lounge: 1 guest at Maple Leaf Lounge (no end date stated); premium supplementary card $199
See American Express Aeroplan Reserve arrow_forward

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Head-to-head tools

Prefer a two-card side-by-side view? Or want to see what a specific Aeroplan welcome bonus is worth in dollars? These FinlyWealth tools handle both:

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Which is best for your travel pattern?

  • Flying Air Canada most of the time, other airlines a few times a year: TD or CIBC — both add six Visa Airport Companion visits per year to the Maple Leaf Lounge benefit, on top of any airline.
  • A couple who each want independent lounge access: CIBC — supplementary card is $149, versus $199 at TD and Amex ($748 vs $798 per year).
  • Spending $8,000+ per year direct with Air Canada: Amex Aeroplan Reserve — 3x on Air Canada purchases beats the 2x on the Visa cards by a wide margin at scale.
  • Below the Visa Infinite Privilege income floor: Amex Aeroplan Reserve — no published minimum income (approval still subject to Amex underwriting).
  • Booking expensive trips, want the highest cancellation cap: CIBC — $10,000 per trip vs $5,000 at TD and $3,000 at Amex.
  • Age 65 or older: CIBC — 10 days of included emergency medical, vs 4 at TD and none on Amex Reserve.
  • Based at Toronto Pearson: Amex Aeroplan Reserve — priority security lane, complimentary valet at T1, and 15% off eligible parking.
  • Already hold the Amex Platinum: TD or CIBC Aeroplan VIP — adds the Maple Leaf Lounge benefit the Platinum does not cover, without duplicating your existing Priority Pass on the Platinum.

Break-even math

Air Canada sells lounge access on some fares at $49–$79 and charges $59 per extra guest. Using $59 as the benchmark value per entry, break-even on the $599 annual fee looks like this:

ScenarioFee to coverVisits to break even (@ $59/entry)
Solo traveller$59911 per year
Cardholder + 1 guest (guest benefit active)$5996 shared per year
Two cardholders on CIBC ($599 + $149)$7487 shared per year
Two cardholders on TD or Amex ($599 + $199)$7987 shared per year

These numbers only "pay for the card" if you would otherwise have paid at the door. Aeroplan earning, free first checked bags, insurance and companion vouchers sit on top of this math and often decide the question. Well-timed welcome bonuses can offset the first year\'s fee entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Aeroplan credit card is best for airport lounge access?expand_more
For most eligible Canadians, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege is the strongest Aeroplan lounge card. All three $599 Aeroplan cards (CIBC, TD Aeroplan VIP, Amex Aeroplan Reserve) open the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge and Air Canada Café network in Canada and the U.S. CIBC and TD each add six complimentary Visa Airport Companion visits a year (DragonPass network) that work on any airline; Amex includes fee-waived Priority Pass membership but every Priority Pass visit is charged at the prevailing rate. CIBC edges TD on supplementary card price ($149 vs $199) and insurance limits.
Do all three Aeroplan credit cards include the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge?expand_more
Yes. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege, CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege, and American Express Aeroplan Reserve each grant unlimited eligible Maple Leaf Lounge and Air Canada Café access in Canada and the U.S. on a same-day departing Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada Express or Star Alliance ticket. Access excludes the Air Canada Signature Suite and international Maple Leaf Lounges outside North America (London, Paris, Frankfurt).
Which Aeroplan card has the best earn rate on Air Canada?expand_more
The American Express Aeroplan Reserve earns 3 points per $1 on Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations purchases — the strongest of the three cards. TD and CIBC each earn 2 points per $1 on Air Canada. For a household putting $10,000 a year on Air Canada fares, Amex earns 30,000 points versus 20,000 on the Visa cards.
Does the Amex Aeroplan Reserve include Priority Pass visits?expand_more
The Amex Aeroplan Reserve waives the US$99 annual Priority Pass membership fee, but every Priority Pass lounge visit is charged at the prevailing rate. That is access at a member price, not included visits. If free complimentary lounge visits on non-Air-Canada flights matter, the TD or CIBC Aeroplan VIP each include six Visa Airport Companion visits per year at no extra cost.
Which Aeroplan card is best for families or couples?expand_more
The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege — its premium supplementary card is $149 (versus $199 at TD and Amex), so a couple with independent lounge access pays $748 a year at CIBC versus $798 at the other two. CIBC also publishes the strongest trip-cancellation coverage: up to $10,000 per trip versus $5,000 at TD and $3,000 at Amex.
Is the Amex Aeroplan Reserve worth $599 per year?expand_more
It depends on your travel pattern. The Reserve wins for three profiles: heavy Air Canada spenders (3x earn), applicants who cannot show $150,000 personal or $200,000 household income (Amex publishes no fixed floor, though approval still depends on their underwriting), and Toronto Pearson regulars who will use the priority security lane, valet, and 15% parking discount. If none of those apply, CIBC or TD deliver better lounge value at the same $599 fee.
Should I get an Aeroplan credit card if I hold the Amex Platinum already?expand_more
Yes if you want Maple Leaf Lounge access — the Amex Platinum does not open the MLL network at any tier. The TD or CIBC Aeroplan VIP pairs efficiently with a Platinum: your Aeroplan card unlocks MLLs, your Platinum covers Priority Pass and the Global Lounge Collection. Note the Amex Platinum caps Priority Pass at 6 visits per year from January 1, 2027 unless you spend $20,000 annually on the Platinum.
Can I use an Aeroplan credit card for lounge access on a WestJet or Delta flight?expand_more
Not for the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge — MLL access requires the cardholder to be travelling on a same-day Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada Express or Star Alliance operating flight. However, on TD or CIBC you can still use one of your six Visa Airport Companion visits at a DragonPass-partner lounge regardless of airline. Amex Priority Pass visits are per-charge and work regardless of airline as well.
What happens after December 31, 2026 for guest access?expand_more
TD and CIBC currently confirm the one complimentary Maple Leaf Lounge guest only through December 31, 2026. Nothing beyond that date is published. Amex publishes one guest with no expiry date, so on paper Amex looks better for couples after 2026 — but Air Canada's own lounge page calls complimentary guest admission a limited-time benefit, and any issuer could change its terms. Recheck the issuer pages in December 2026 before making a decision based on guest access.
Which Aeroplan card has the best welcome bonus right now?expand_more
Aeroplan credit card welcome bonuses change quarterly. As of September 2026, well-timed applications during a promotional window can net 60,000–95,000 Aeroplan points across the three cards — enough for a one-way business class transatlantic flight on Air Canada. Compare current welcome bonuses on FinlyWealth before applying to time the application to the strongest current offer.
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Card benefits, annual fees, welcome bonuses, and rebate amounts reflect terms current as of the last-verified date above. Terms change without notice — always confirm current details with the issuer before applying. AirportLounges.ca may earn a commission on successful referrals.